Unite



May 10 1927.

- L. E. PARKER SLIDE FEEDER FOR MATCH MACHINES Filed Jan. 16, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 54%. xi/W 61 than May 10, 1927. 1,628,328

L. E. PARKER Y Y SLIDE FEEDER FOR MATCH MACHINES Filed Janrl6, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwue'ntoz 10 1927. M L. E. PARKER SLIDE FEEDER FOR MATCH MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 16, 1925 Fatenled May 19, 1927.

eirsn "stares ear LUCIAN E. PARKER, 07$ WADSWOBTI-I, OHIO, ASEdIGNGR TO TI-IE OHIO MATCH COI- PANY, OF WADSWOBTH, OHIO, A CORPQRATION OF OHIO.

SLIDE FEEDER FOR .MATCH IVIACHINES.

Application filed January This case is a continuation in part of my application of the same title filed May 29, 1924, Serial No. 716,677.

The object of this invention is to provide a device for automatically arranging a plurality of match-box slides inregular uniform order, easily and expeditiously, so that they may thereafter be fed into the. slide positioning mechanism of a match boxing machine without additional arrangement or manipulation.

By the employment of my device the arrangement of the slides is so materially eX- creasing production, dispenses with the serv-' ices of a number of employees, and releases such employees for other duties.

The invention consists in a slide feed-er for match machines, comprising a feeder rough arranged atan incline and adapted k to receive slides-in haphazard arrangement,

this trough being provided with a plurality of similar paths into which the slides may fall. in predetermined position and down which they may travel by gravity due to the inclination of the'trough, means for agitating the slides ted to the trough for the purpose of causing them to assume/ the desired lju'edetermined position in the paths, means for positively arresting the travel of the slides in uniform series and for similarly. positively discharging them, combined with means for receiving the discharged slides and for conveying them to a boxing machine in order, as discharged from the feeder, as i will proceed now to explain and finally claim. 7

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention. in the several figures oi whiclrlike' parts are similarly designated,

Figure l is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention. a portion of one side of. the trough being broken away to show parts of the mechanism lying behind it. Fig. 2- is a plan View of the feeder trough and associated mechanism, a portion thereof 'being broken out. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail of the discharge end of the 16, 1925. Serial No. 2,969.

trough, showing the slide arresting and discharging mechanism. Figs. a and 5 are, respectively, a plan of the conveyor mechanism, and a side elevation of same, portions thereof being broken away. Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse section taken in the plane otline 6-6, Fig. 5.

he feeder trough has a bottom '1, similar sides 2, and an end 3 sloping toward the bottom 1, and this trough is arranged at an incline, and may be supported upon suitable framework 4.

Arranged upon the bottom of the trough is a plurality of similar guide'members 5 suitably uniformly spaced apart to provi le a pll'u'ality of similar paths 6 of such width as to loosely accommodate match-box slides when such slides fall into same upon their sides or ends, but incapable of rcceivingthe slides in any other positions.

Arranged transversely 01": the trough, adjacent to its ends, are shafts 7 and 8 respectively,carried in suitable similar bean ings' 9, and uponthese shafts are mounted, .tEdJZlCQllt to the sides 2 of the trough,

sprockets 10 and 11 respectively. -These sprockets carry chains 12 provided at suitable intervals with enlarged links 13 between which are supported agitator rods 14 which extend transversely across the trough. As the sprockets are rotated, as by means of a chain and sprocket connection indicated at 15.; the chains will travel in the direction indicated by the arrows l) and will drag the rods ltup the trough in proximity to the tops of the guide members Mounted in suitable bearings 16 and 17 supported at the sides of the trough and adjacent to the lower or discharge ends of the paths 6 are shafts 18 and 19 which carry pluralities of similar friction or'cam members 20 and 21 respectively. These cam members are so arranged upon their shafts as to lie in pairs centrally above and below the discharge ends of the paths, and 'act'to trictionally engage and arrest the slides as they descend the paths and to frictionally and positively discharge the slides, in a manner as will be hereinafter explained. The. shaft 18 is provided with a lever 22 fixed to it and connected by a link 23 with an extension at of lever arm fixed to the shaftll) and carrying a suitable treadle 26. The lever 25 and with it the shafts 18 and 19 and their respective cam members.

Cal

Fill

and :21 are held in normal position for arresting movement ol. the slides down the paths. as indicated in Fig. 3. b means of a suitable spring" or other resilient com-n ction 27.

The bottom 1 of the trough in extended beyond the discharge ends of the path-a as indicated at 25 and provided with an angle member 529 against which the slides discharged from the paths are eloppt-d. and which maintains; the thus iiliecharued slides in unitorm alignment.

Battle plates A. and B pivotallv supported at a, (4' and Z) Z in the sides 2 of the trough and resting upon the upper and lower flights respectively of the chains 113, are provided for a purpose hereinafter appearing.

At one side of the lower end of the feeder trough, herein indicated as the right hand side, the extension 28 is laterally elongated, and connected to it in any suitable manner is a conveyor tor :arryine otl. the uniformly arranged slides discharged from the feeder (Figs. it. and This. conveyor comprises a? pair of bells 30 travelling in parallel relation to each other. an particulartv shown in Fig. l. and carried by similar pulh ol and 32 arranged at a suitable distance 'l'rom each other. The pulleys 2:31. are supportedv in bearings 53 made adjustable, tor the purpose o'li adjueting the tension upon the bolts 30. by means of slot and bolt connections. or the like, indicated at Ell. .lhc pulle v s $2 'l'nrnish the drive tor the belts 33. one oli these pulleys being driven by means of a suitable drive pulley 35 mounted upon its shall and the power theretrom being;- trans mitted to the other puller :32 through genre: 36 of the same pitch-dian1eter. It will thus be seen that by means ol this nearing. the two pullover 355 are driven at the same speed. and that. coi'iseouentl v. the two belts I'l have theeame linear speed so that any two points lying directly oppo c each other upon the two bells will travel 'lrom one end ot the (BODVQYOP to the other in the same relation-- ship.

The convovor is guiding framework provided with a belt con'lpoecd oi lontl itudb nal stringers ii? to which are attached at suitable intervals ann'lc members 138 which carry guides 39 against which the belte 'll) ride. and adjustablv supported upon the aunlc uicmbera 38 ot one side ot the conveyor by means of slot and bolt connectioi'is 4-0 (Fig. 5) are angle members ll extending laterally over the top of the conveyor and carrying: a guard rail l2 arranaed centrally over the path between the belle.

Arranged at the discharge cud ol the conveyor a chute -:ll compri ing: a bottom -l-l. sides and a top rail ll). into which the slides are discharged from the bolts 31') and down which they slide and stack without losing their desired uniform a1 angement,

neaaaae and through which they are introduced to the poeitionineinechanitun oil the match boxing machine.

is one appropriate motion of supplying slides to the. leedor trough as desired. I may tuovide a hopper l7 (Fig. l.) having a bottom compoecd o l pl uralitv o l' similar belts ltl carried by pulleys ill and fill arranged upon sha the Jr! and 52. rcsi'iectively. at opp0- site ends oi the ho iu ier. and the shaft :31 having a hand wheel a; with spoken or hand grips Til. b v which the shalt Til may be turned to in'ipart motion to the belts 48 in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 1, whereby slideu deposited in a mass in the hopper ell may be discharged therefrom at will, in desired tmantities. into the 'l'ceder trough.

The operation ol the device is as follows s iles above indi rated. slides deposited in a mass in the hopper -1 ma be discharged in suitable quantities into the upper end ot the l'ceder trough by importing appropriate travel to the belts 4-8. Some of these slides will inuncdiatclv drop into the paths 'l'ormed by the guides in position upon their sides and will slide down the paths until arrested by the cam members 20 and ill in the -iosition indi .(lltitl at a. Fig. 3. Those slides which do not thus tall into the paths. but which ride upon the tops of the guide members a \villslide down these guide members and come in contact with the t'rav elliue; agitator bars ll. which will carrvthcm along the tops; oi? the guide members toward the upper end ol the trough until they drop into the paths either upon their sides or their ends. It a large number oi" slides is led into the trough. these slides will tumble down the trough until arrested by the lower or ascending {light ol' agitator bars ll. by which they will he carried up the trough, and during this upward travel will be so shi'ltcd about as to assume positions which will permit them to tall between the guide members .3 and into the paths. Obviously, slides in the trtuuih which do not tallv into the paths will be carried up the incline oi the trough by the agitator bars l-las many times as is necessary to cause them to [all into the paths.

Those Ell l0r-f which l'all into the paths upon their ends; will be turned upon their sides by contact. with them ill the ascending; agitator bars l-l. tor the reason that these bars are in such proximity to the tops ol" the guide members .3 as to clear slides routing in the patha upon their sides. but to inttu'ccpl and turn over slides rcstinntherein upon their ends.

It more slides are led to the feeder trough than can be conveniently handled bv the ufit'tlltllllgl rods ll and have. thcwl'orc. a tendency to spill past the line oi. the shaft T they will be arrested by the battles A and ii so as to be il'urther acted upon by the rods ll.

As the slides assume the proper position upon their sides, they will travel down the paths until arrested by the cam members 20 and 21, as above pointed out, and will back up one behind another in the paths in uniform series. 1

When itis desired to discharge a series of SllClQS flOlll the paths, the attemlantof the machine presses her foot upon the treadle 26 and thus, by means of the link and lever connection of the shafts 18 and 19, turns these shafts in opposite directions and. causes the cam members 20 and 21 by frictional engagement with the sides of the slides to positiy ely simultaneously discharge one slide from each of the paths; It Willbe seen that, due to the conformation of the slide engaging faces'of the cams ZO and 21, as soon as the slide has been pushed forward, it will be freed by the cams and will slide to a position abutting against the angle member 29 as indicated by the dotted lines I), Fig. 1. Of course, as soon as the series of slides is discharged from the paths, the operator will release the treadle Q-G and the splin 2-7 will return it and the-shafts and. cams to their normal position, as indicated in Fig. 3, and the camswill frictionally engage and push back the succeeding series of slides, thereby moving back all of the following slides in their respective paths a distance sufficient to preclude the possibility of their interfering with the clearing of the previously released series'of slides from theiextcnsion 28.

It will be noted that all of the slides disfcharged against the angle member 29 are in uniform relative arrangement, and they may be swept from theiextension' 28 by the op erator placing her hand behind the slide the farthest to the left and pushing that slide and with itthose ahead of it into engagement with the parallel travelling belts of the vconveyor mechanism of Figs. l, 5 and (3.

lhese belts pick up the slides one at" a time, [by frictional engagement with their ends,

and support and convey them to, and release them at, the entrance of the chute 1+3 into which they drop in regular order and arthe stringers 3 rangement, and in'which they stack up in such arrangement for subsequent introduction into the positioning mechanism of the boxing machine.

If,'by chance, any slides should become mutilated in their passage through the slide feeder, they may be picked out and discarded when discharged from the paths (i'of the feeder, or if not-noticed at that time and discovered after'havingbeen pickedxup by the" belts 30, tl'iey'maybe pushed from be tween the belts and will drop down between It will thus be seen that I provide a simple, efficient and automatic device for arranging match-box slides in regular predetermined order and for'conveying the thus arranged slides, Without disarrangement, to a match boxing machine. Moreover, it will be apparent that no hand manipulation of the slides is necessary other than that required to sweep them from the extension 28 into engagement with the conveyor mechanism.

Various changes in construction and arrangementof parts contemplated as with in the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims.

1. In aslide feeder for match machines, a feeder trough adapted to receive slides in haphazard arrangement, means in said trough defining a plurality of pathsadapted to receive said slides in predetermined position and through'which said slides travel,

and means comprising friction membersarranged in pairs ad acent to the discharge ends of saidpaths and adapted by their combined engagement with the slides to arrest travel of the slides in the paths,-said means arranged for actuation to positivelyeject a single slide from the discharge end of each of said paths.

2. In a slide feeder for match machines,

a feeder troughadapted to receive slides in haphazard arrangement, means in said trough defining a plurality of paths adapted to receive said slides in predetermined position and in which said slides travel, and

means adjacent to the discharge ends of said iaths arra-ngedto friction'allv en a e said slides and arrest theirtravel, said slide arresting means capable of actuation to positively discharge saidv slides from said paths in uniform series. v

3. In a slide feeder for match machines, a

feeder trough adapted to receiveslides in" haphazard arrangement,

7 H means in said trough defining a plurality of paths adapted to receive said slides in predetermined position and in "which said slides travel, and means. adjacent to the discharge ends of said paths arranged to frictionally engage said slides and arrest their travel, said slide ar resting means capable of actuation to more said, slides toand positively discha them from said paths in uniform series ind said means upon their return movement opcratllO l'lil Ill tit]

use

whereby they may positively eject slides from said paths in uniform series.

5. In a slide feeder for ma teh machines. a feeder trough adapted to receive slides in hapl'uizard arrangement, means in said trough defining a plurality ot similar paths adapted to receive said slides in predetermined position and in which said slides travel by gravity, means comprising pairs ol cam members arranged adjacent to the disclnu'ge ends of said paths for arresting the travel of said slides in uuil'orm series by frictional engagenlent therewith. and means for in'iparting movement to said cams whereby they may discharge slides from said paths in uniform series and said cams upon their return movement operating to push back slides travelling behind those released.

6. In a slide 'leedcr for match machines, an inclined feeder trough adapted to receive slides in haphazard arrangement. a plural ity of similar guide members arranged in said trough and uniformly spaced apart to form paths adapted to receive the slides in predetermined position and in which said slides travel by gravity, means comprising pairs of similar cam members located adjacent to the discharge ends of said paths and adapted to arrest the travel oi said slides by frictional engagt-unent therewith, and means for simultaneously imparting movement to said cam members to positively eject said slides from said paths insueeessive uniform SGI'IPS.

7. In a slide feeder for match machines. an inclined feeder trough adapted to receive slides in haphazard arrangement. a plurality Oil similar longitudinal guide members uniformly spaced apart in said trough to fornr paths to receive said slides in prede' tel-mined position and in which said slides travel by gravity, means comprising a pair Of similar cam members arranged adjacent to the discharge ends of said paths and adapted to arrest the travel of said slit'les by Frictional engagement therewith above and below them, and means for siumltaneously inu'iarting motion to all of said pairs of cum members to positively succt ...vel v discharge said slides from said paths 1n uniform series.

8. In a slide feeder for match machines, an inclined teeder trough adapted to receive slides in haphazard arrangement. a plural:

irv oi similar guide members arranged longitudinally of said trough and uniformly spaced apart to form a plurality ol. similar paths to receive said slides in predetermined position and in which paths said slides lra vel by gravity, shafts arranged above and below said guide members adjacent to the discharge ends of said paths, a plurality of cam members on each shaft equal in number to the number of said paths and so arranged upon said shafts as to form a pair of cams asea for each path and adapted, to arrest the travel of the Slides in said paths by trietional engagement therewitlnancl means for simultaneously oscillating said shafts in opposite t'lircctions for the purpose of positivelv ejecting the slides from saidpaths in uniform series.

ll. In a slide feeder for match machines, an inclined trough adapted to receive slides in hapl'iazard arrangement, means defining a plurality of paths longitudinally of: said trough and adapted to receive slides in predetermined position only, and. means including a rod extending transversely of said trough andtravelling longitudinally thereof entirely above said path-defining means for ensuring the positioning of the slides in said paths in the desired position.

10. In a slide feeder for. match machines,

an inclined feeder trough adapted to receive slides in llttplltlZtll'tl arrangement, means do lining a plurality of paths extending longitudinally of said trough and adapted to receive slides in predetermined position only, and means incltuling alrod. arranged transversely of said trough and travelling longitudinally therethrough entirely above said path defining means and adapted to agitate the slides ted to said trough and to ensure the desired positioning of the slides in said paths.

U. In a slide feeder for match machines, an inclined feeder trough adapted to re ceive slides in haphazard arrangement, a plurality of: similar i guide members arranged longitudinally of said trough and forming between them paths to receive said slides in one oi. two predetermined posit-ions, said slides adapted to travel by gravity lon gitudinally of said paths, and means including a rod arranged transversely oi" said trough and travelling longitudinally therethrough entirely above said. guides in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of said slides for agitating said slides and ensuring the positioning of same in said paths as desired.

12. In a slide feeder for match machines, an inclined feeder trough adapted to receive slides in hapl'lazard arrangement, a plurality of similar guide members arranged longitudinally of said. trough. and spaced apart to form a plurality of paths adapted to receive said slides upon their sides or ends and in which said slides travel by gravity, and means including a. plurality of rods arranged transversely of said trough and travelling longitudinally entirely above said guides and adapted to cause all slides deposited in said paths upon their ends to be turned upon their sides as desired.

1 In a slide feeder for match machines. an inclined. feeder trough adaptedto receive slides in haphazard arrangement, a plurality of similar guide members arranged lontill ltlt) llll gitudinally of said trough and spaced apart to form a plurality of similar paths adapted to receive said slides in position upon their sides orends and not otherwise and in which said slides travelfand a travelling agitator including a plurality of rods arranged transversely of said trough tudinally thereof above said guide members in a direction opposite to the direction of the travel of said slides and adapted to agitate said slides and cause same to fall into said paths as desired and to causeslides which have fallen-into said paths upon their ends to be turned upon their sides.

14 111 a slide feeder for match machines; an inclined feeder trough adapted. to receive slides in haphazard arrangement, a plurality of similar guide members arranged longitudinally of said trough and spaced apart to form a plurality of uniform longitudinal paths adapted to receive slides in predetermined position, a pair of shafts arranged transversely ofsaid trough adjacent to its ends and carrying similar sprockets adiacent to their ends, a pair of chains carried bysaid sprockets, and agitator members carried by said chains and extending transversely of said trough and adapted upon rotation of saidsliaftsto travel longitudinally of said trough entirely above said guide members for the purpose of agitating said slides and causing same to fallinto said paths in the desired predetermined position.

15. In a slide feeder for match machines, an inclined feeder trough adapted to receive slides in haphazard arrangement, a plurality of similar guide .members arranged longitudinally of said trough and spaced apart to form a plurality of similar paths extending longitudinally of'said trough and adapted to receive said slides in predetermined position and in which said slides travel by gravity, a traveling agitator for agitating said slides and causing same to fall into said paths in the desired position, means adjacent to the discharge ends of'said paths for frictionallyengaging said slides and arresting their travel, means for actuating said slide-arresting means for the purpose of discharging slides from said paths in uniform series, means for receiving the thus discharged slides and maintaining them in uniform arrangement, and a conveyor mechanism cooperating with the slide, receiving means for conveying said slides to a boxing machine.

16. In a slide feeder for match machines, an inclined feeder trough adapted to receive slides in haphazard arrangement, a plurality of similar guide members-arranged longiand moving longi.-.

form arrangement, and a conveyor mechanism cooperating with the slide receiving means andfcomprisinga pair of travelling belts for conveying said slides to aboxing machine. a

17. In a slide feeder for match machines,

an inclined feeder trough adapted to receive I slides in haphazard arrangement, a pluralof similar guide members arranged longnudinally of said trough and spaced apart to form a plurality of similar paths extending longitudinally of said trough and adapted to receive said slides in predetermined position and in which said slides travel by gravity, a traveling agitator, for agitating said slides and causing same to fall into said paths in the desired position, means adja-' cent to the discharge ends of saidpaths for frictionally engaging said slides and arrest lili) travelling belts of equal linear velocity for conveying said slides and a chute for receiving said slides from said belts and for conveying them in uniform stacked relation to a boxing machine.

18. In a slide feeder for match machines,

an inclined trough adapted to receive slides in haphazard arrangement, means defining a plurality of paths longitudinally of said trough and adapted to receive slides in predetermined position, means extending transversely of said trough and travelling over said path-defining means for ensuring the positioning of the'slides in said paths in the desired position, and means fixed with relation to said travelling means for arresting the movement of slides not received in said paths.

19. In a slide feeder for match machines, an inclined trough adapted to receive slides in haphazard arrangement, means defining a plurality of paths longitudinally of said trough and adapted to receive slidesin predetermined position, means extending transversely of said trough and travelling over saidpath-defining means for ensuring the positioning of the slides in said paths in the desired position, and means comprising a hallle timed with relation to aaid travelling: moans lor arresting the movement o'i': alidw: not l'tiCGlYQtl in Fttld patha.

:20 In a slide leader for match machines. an inclined trough adapted to roroire alidea in haphazard arrangement; 111811115 defining: a plurality of paths? linigritiidii'ially ot said l-l'UtltL'll and adapted to rorriro alidoa in pro- (lCl'tIIlllHQtl POSlilUlL manna including continaonstravelling: rhaina and rod. carried tihoroh moving over said pa l'll tlQlltlll manna l'or rnanring' the positioning: oil the slides in said paths in the dnsirod porition. and llltftlllrl t'tllllmlrlllij haltin pivotiall t supportod l'lt11lF \t?l';--" .r of mid trough and lHN" in their fltt onda roe-ting: npon tho upper and lower flights roaportiroly oi said chains "for arrrstinp; tho lnoi'omrnt of slides not rvmired in said paths.

it. in a :jelidn"tender tor inatrh niarhii'ica. an lllt'llllOtl trough adapted to rrroirod slidesin haplnirard arranstoinenty ineam tltillllilfjj a plurality of patha longi udinally (it want trough and adapted to l'tttltt slidoa in prrdetermined position. nioan trai'olling ovoisaid pat'li-dolinin g' means for einenrinp the piilaitioi'ling ol" the alidoa in said patina in the dosirod position. and means comprising a hatllo pirotally supported transversely of said trough and having its free edge engaging the longitudinally travelling means for arresting the movement of alidos not to (eeiied in said paths.

22. In a. slide feeder for match machines, an inclined trough adapted to receive slides in haphazard arrangtnwnt, means defining a plnralit of paths longitudinally ol' said. tronghand adapted. to rvreivo slides in prodotomninod ptmitioi'i, means including: and leas travelling; chaina carrying rods moving over said initlrdotinin r means for ensuring the positioning}; of tho slides in Said paths in tho doairvd position, and means compriaingr a pair of battles extending); transversely of said trough, one oifl said hatllos having its odgo riding; upon tho upper flight of said chains and the other hal'lio having its odgo riding upon the lower flight o'l. said rhains and StllCl hatllrri (:ooporat'ing; to cloao said trough transversely ahovr said path-defining ineans for arreatin i tho lnovmnontt o'l'- Slidtrs not; received in said paths.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sot; may hand this tbtzh day of Jany A. D, 1925.

LU CIAN l]. PARKER 

